These data provide evidence against the hypothesis that sexual activity generally increases risk
of preterm delivery between 29 and 36 weeks. However, we cannot exclude the possibility that a
small subgroup of susceptible women might have adverse consequences of sexual activity.
Coitus late in pregnancy: risk of preterm rupture of amniotic sac membranes.
Ekwo EE1, Gosselink CA, Woolson R, Moawad A, Long CR.
Author information
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
Coitus with or without orgasm in late pregnancy is inconsistently associated with preterm rupture
of amniotic sac membranes. We tested the hypothesis that during late pregnancy sexual behaviors
including sexual positioning relate to the occurrence of premature rupture of membranes.
STUDY DESIGN:
Women aged 15 to 45 years having preterm premature rupture of membranes, term premature
rupture of membranes, or preterm delivery without premature rupture of membranes were
matched singly by age, race, and parity to control women delivered of term infants. Information
about six sexual activities, obstetric history, cervical infections, smoking during pregnancy, and
sociodemographic information was obtained by face-to-face interview.
RESULTS:
Only the male superior position was significantly associated with preterm premature rupture of
membranes (odds ratio 2.40, 95% confidence interval 1.16 to 4.97) and preterm delivery without
premature rupture of membranes (odds ratio 1.82, confidence interval 1.02 to 3.25) after
confounding variables were controlled for. No sexual positioning or sexual activities related
significantly to term premature rupture of membranes.
CONCLUSION:
Most sexual positions and activities during late pregnancy are not associated with adverse
pregnancy outcomes.
trimester. Furthermore, among those women who had stopped having sexual intercourse in the
last trimester, a larger (p < 0.05) proportion was delivered preterm (57.1%), with or without
premature rupture of membranes, than was delivered at term (13.6%). In addition, only three
women (18.8%) delivered preterm, with (two women) or without (one woman) premature
rupture of membranes, reported having intercourse within 1 week before the onset of
complications.
CONCLUSION:
For healthy nulliparous women, coitus during pregnancy is not related to bacterial vaginosis and
does not predispose to preterm birth.
Sexuality in pregnancy and premature labour.
Georgakopoulos PA, Dodos D, Mechleris D.
Abstract
The relation of sexual behaviour during pregnancy to the initiation of labour was investigated in
358 patients of whom 58 were delivered after premature labour and 300 were delivered
spontaneously at term. In all patients the mean weekly coital frequency and the frequency of
orgasm were investigated by means of a retrospective questionnaire. There was no significant
difference in coital or orgasmic frequency between the women who had a premature labour and
those who had a spontaneous delivery at term. This was also true when those having premature
labour were divided into those starting labour with ruptured membranes and those starting with
contractions.
The association of sexual intercourse during pregnancy with labor onset.
Kafaei Atrian M1, Sadat Z2, Rasolzadeh Bidgoly M3, Abbaszadeh F3, Asghari Jafarabadi M4.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Pregnancy is one of the most critical periods in women's lives. Sexual relationships change in
this period. Monitoring of uterine contractions has been shown increase in uterine activity after
sexual intercourse in pregnant women.
OBJECTIVES:
This study aimed to determine the association of sexual intercourse during pregnancy with labor
onset.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
This cross-sectional study included 120 pregnant women with signs of labor onset at referral
hospitals of Kashan University of Medical Sciences between November and March 2012. Signs
of labor onset included labor pain, bloody show, or rupture of membrane. Subjects were
investigated in two groups regarding history of coitus in the last week of pregnancy. A
questionnaire containing demographic questions, obstetrical history, and sexual activity was
completed by trained midwife through face-to-face interview. Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test,
and t-test were used to check the homogeneity of the two groups for basic and confounding
variables. Independent-samples t-test was used to compare differences between groups in terms
of mean gestational age.
RESULTS:
There was no significant difference between groups in age (P = 0.434), body mass index (P =
0.705), neonatal weight (P = 0.421), maternal education (P = 0.963), occupation (P = 0.381), and
parity (P = 0.925). Gestational age at the time of delivery was significantly lower in intercourse
group in comparison with control group based on last menstrual period (P = 0.012) and
ultrasonography (P = 0.002). There was no correlation between intercourse and cause of
admission (P = 0.720). Type of delivery (cesarean section or vaginal delivery) was not affected
by intercourse (P = 0.820) or contact with semen (P = 0.841). Results showed no significant
difference in neonatal weight based on presence of sexual intercourse (P = 0.422) or contact with
semen (P = 0.583) at the last week of pregnancy.
CONCLUSIONS:
Sexual activity in last week of pregnancy might be associated with the onset of labor. Therefore,
in the absence of complications in term pregnancy, sexual activity can be considered as a natural
way to prevent post term pregnancy.
Effect of coital activity on onset of labor in women scheduled for labor induction: a randomized
controlled trial.
Tan PC1, Yow CM, Omar SZ.
Author information
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To estimate the effect of coitus on the onset of labor.
METHODS:
Women with a nonurgent labor induction at term were recruited. Women randomly assigned to
the advised-coitus group were encouraged to have sex to promote the onset of labor. Controls
were neither encouraged nor discouraged regarding coitus. Participants kept a coital and orgasm
diary until delivery, and standard obstetric care was provided to both groups. Primary outcomes
were reported coitus and spontaneous labor. Secondary outcomes included reported orgasms,
initial Bishop score at the admission for induction, preterm rupture of membranes, use of
dinoprostone, oxytocin, or epidural, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, cesarean delivery,
maternal fever, and neonatal morbidity.
RESULTS:
One hundred eight and 102 women randomly assigned to advised-coitus and control groups,
respectively, were available for analysis. Women assigned to the advised-coitus group were more
likely to report coital activity before delivery (60.2% compared with 39.6%, relative risk 1.5,
95% confidence interval 1.1-2.0; P=.004), but the spontaneous labor rate was no different (55.6%
compared with 52.0%, relative risk 1.1, 95% confidence interval 0.8-1.4; P=.68). Cesarean
delivery rate and neonatal and other secondary outcomes were also not different.
CONCLUSION:
Among women scheduled for labor induction who were advised to have sex, the increase in
sexual activity did not increase the rate of spontaneous labor.
Human ejaculate. Effects on the biomechanical properties of the human chorioamniotic
membranes.
Harmanli OH1, Wapner RJ, Lontz JF.
Author information
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the effects of human ejaculate on the biomechanical properties of the human
chorioamniotic membranes.
STUDY DESIGN:
Equivalent strips of chorioamniotic membranes were obtained from 30 term, uncomplicated
pregnancies immediately after delivery and incubated for 0, 1 and 24 hours with either ejaculate
or pseudoamniotic fluid. Three biomechanical properties--rupture tension, strain to rupture and
work to rupture--were compared.
RESULTS:
One hour of incubation with pseudoamniotic fluid alone did not significantly change the
membrane biomechanical parameters, but these parameters were reduced after one hour of
exposure to ejaculate (P < .05). Twenty-four hours of incubation decreased all three properties in
both the ejaculate and control groups without any significant difference between the two groups.
CONCLUSION:
In vitro exposure to human ejaculate for one hour significantly weakens the human
chorioamniotic membranes.